Marion Council on Aging

on November 8, 2014

Applications for the Senior Property Tax Work-Off Program are now available at the Marion Council on Aging. This program allows Marion seniors, 62 and older, to perform services for the town in exchange for a maximum of $750 reduction on their real estate taxes. Please call the COA for more information or to register for this program at 508 748-3570.

The Marion Council on Aging has tickets to the ORRHS Drama Club’s presentation of “It’s a Wonderful Life, A live Radio Play.” The tickets are for seniors only in the Tri-Town and are for the final dress rehearsal to be held on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30 pm. A canned good to the local pantry is appreciated.

ORR Class of 1989

on November 8, 2014

The Old Rochester Regional High School Class of 1989 will celebrate its 25th High School Reunion at The Inn on Shipyard Park on November 29 from 7:00 to 11:00 pm. Join us for light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. A $10 donation per person will be collected at the door. Please RSVP by November 15 via Facebook (Old Rochester Class of 1989 25th Reunion) or email orrhsclassof1989@gmail.com.

Wednesday Morning Walk with the BBC

on November 8, 2014

Join the Buzzards Bay Coalition and Wareham Land Trust on Wednesday, November 19 at 9:00 am for a morning stroll through Nasketucket Bay State Reservation in Mattapoisett. This enjoyable guided group walk will be great exercise for your body and mind, and you’ll also learn about the local environment along the way.

To RSVP for this free event, email bayadventures@savebuzzardsbay.org or call 508-999-6363 ext. 219.

This program is part of the Coalition’s Bay Adventures series – programs designed for explorers of all ages to get outside and discover Buzzards Bay. To learn more about all our upcoming Bay Adventures, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/BayAdventures.

Tri-Town Veteran’s Day Events

on November 8, 2014

Tri-Town remembers its veterans on November 11 with two big events scheduled in Marion and Mattapoisett, both beginning at 11:00 am.

The Town of Marion will honor “hometown boy” retired Navy Captain Robert E. Ellis, a Bronze Star recipient with Combat “V” for Valor in Vietnam, who graduated from Sippican School and Tabor Academy.

Ellis will be the guest speaker at Veteran’s Memorial Park at Old Landing on Front Street on Tuesday during the Marion’s annual Veteran’s Day service.

Ellis and his wife Judy have five children, 15 grandchildren, and now reside in Stonington, Connecticut.

In Mattapoisett, the Florence Eastman Post 280-American Legion and the Department of Veterans Services for Mattapoisett/Rochester will hold their Veteran’s Day ceremony at Old Hammondtown School, welcoming principal speaker LTC Todd Johnson from the U.S. Army and associated with the Newport Naval War College.

Commander Michael Lamoureax will begin the event with his opening remarks, followed by a prayer led by Chaplain Richard Langoff, and then State Representative Bill Straus will address those in attendance.

The Old Hammondtown School Band will perform “America the Beautiful,” as well as several other patriotic songs, and the OHS Chorus will sing “American We” and “Thank a Vet.”

By Jean Perry

2014 Senior Citizens Art Contest

on November 8, 2014

Five Rochester artists were recently recognized in the 2014 Senior Citizens Art Contest run by the Commonwealth of MA. The theme of the competition was “We Celebrate Massachusetts Cities and Towns.” Betty Beaulieu, Doreen Grover, Betty DeVincent, Janet Smith-Flaherty and Helen Johnson won awards for their watercolor paintings. 152 seniors from across the state participated in the contest. An awards reception was held on Oct. 27 in Boston.

Community Colleges Are A Great Deal!

on November 7, 2014

Representatives from Bristol, Cape Cod and Massasoit Community Colleges will be on hand at the Onset Foursquare Church, 301 Onset Avenue, on Monday, November 17 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. This free walk-in, no registration outreach event is to assist potential students with completing admissions and financial aid applications in time for January admissions. Barbara Sullivan, Educational Advisor/ Wareham Outreach Worker for the New Bedford based Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) said that, “Like anything else, it is important for potential students to explore their educational options before making a decision as to what school to attend. At least once a month, I meet with former students who, because it was quick and easy, opted for a for-profit school, which for whatever reason did not work out; the end result – student loan debt of $5,000 to $8,000, and no credits to transfer. I recently assisted a client in this situation with getting out of default so they could continue their education. This time, it will be at a community college, where because of their low-income status, they will likely qualify for enough grant aid to cover two semesters and no loan required.”

Staff professionals from each school and EOC will be on hand to assist participants with completing admissions applications and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the attending schools as well as other schools. Those just seeking information are also encouraged to attend. Please contact Barbara Sullivan at 508-863-3691 for questions and also to learn what financial documents are required to complete the FAFSA.

ORRJH Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Banquet

on November 7, 2014

The twenty-fourth annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Tri-Town – Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester – senior citizens, sponsored by the eighth-grade class of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, will be held on Sunday, November 23 at 12:00 pm in the ORRJHS cafeteria. Doors will open at 11:15 am. Three hundred tickets will be available, 100 per town and distributed through the local Councils on Aging. Shut-in meals will be available. Please notify your local Council on Aging with the names and address of the intended recipient. Any individual or local business interested in making cash contributions or donating door prizes should call the junior high at 508-758-4928 and speak with Mr. Kevin Brogioli, Principal. As always, we look forward to the continued support of the Tri-Town communities.

Science Teachers Work to Help Freshmen Adjust

on November 7, 2014

Transitioning from eighth grade to high school can be easy for some students and hard for others. No matter the difficulty, having some help and guidance can be an important thing during this exciting time for students. That’s what Old Rochester Regional’s new Freshman Advisory program has set out to accomplish.

Science teachers have teamed with guidance counselors and Principal Michael Devoll to provide freshmen advice on how to adjust to the high school and what to expect during their freshman year. These meetings take place from 7:30 – 7:50 am every other Thursday and will continue throughout the school year.

Mrs. Graser and Mrs. Cabral are well-liked science teachers at ORR, and both of them serve as advisors to the freshmen. Cabral explained how the science teachers’ role in the program came about.

“Mr. Devoll looked for volunteers at the end of last year, and most of the Science Department liked the idea,” said Cabral, “so we became the advisors.” She continued, “I like the fact that we’re able to connect with our freshmen homerooms in a way we haven’t been in the past.”

Graser described Freshman Advisory as “An opportunity for every freshman to have a go-to person to connect with, and help them with typical freshmen issues.” When questioned about what subjects are covered during the meetings, Graser answered by saying, “Staying on top of your work, introducing the students to what the high school has to offer, how to communicate with teachers before it becomes a problem, and managing your time.”

Freshman William Balser described Freshman Advisory from a student perspective.

“We talk about how our week is going and how our grades are,” said Balser. “It helps me know where I am with my grades.”

Balser said, however, that he would like to see the program explore more topics throughout the year.

“It could improve,” said Balser. “There should be a wider range of topics, since a lot of high school is social. Most kids in my grade feel the same way as me.”

Samantha Ball said that Freshman Advisory is “a better way to start the day than classes.” She agreed that the program is repetitive, saying that it could be helped out by some different topics.

“It would be good if we (the students) guided what topics were being talked about.” She added, “It can be useful to students who need help getting organized.”

Cabral said she believes the program will continue next year, as it is “going well for the freshmen right now, and the current freshmen may continue as sophomores.”

Although there seems to be a desire for a greater variety of topics in the curriculum, Freshman Advisory is off to a pretty good start.

By Patrick Briand

Selectman Explains Enterprise Revenues

on November 7, 2014

After months of waiting for financial explanations for the Waterfront Enterprise Fund, Selectman Paul Silva and Town Administrator Michael Gagne were ready to present the board details on how the fund has historically been financed and how it will be funded moving forward. Two significant changes were noted in Gagne’s presentation.

First, the Town will now request state approval via special legislation that will allow 100-percent of all boat excise taxes collected to be fully accrued to the Waterfront Enterprise Fund. Second, Gagne has changed the percentage charged to the Waterfront Enterprise Fund for clerical work performed by the treasurer, tax collector, accountant and town administrator.

In previous years, the Waterfront Enterprise Fund had received only 50-percent of the collected boat excise taxes and had paid a slightly higher percentage for fixed clerical costs. Fixed clerical costs will now be scaled back to reflect a more accurate figure, Gagne said. Those changes equate to: excise taxes from approximately $23,000 annually to $30,000. As for fixed costs, those changes are: town administrator from 5-percent to 3-percent (approximately $5,000 to $3,000); accountant 5-percent to 3-percent (approximately $3,500 to $2,000); accounting clerical from 5-percent to 3-percent (approximately $2,200 to $1,330); and treasurer/collector from 5-percent to 4-percent (approximately $3,000 to $2,400). Tax clerical services and Board of Selectmen costs remain at 3-percent or approximately $309.

Once the state signs off on the change of excise taxes collected, the Waterfront Enterprise Fund will receive 100-percent.

Silva explained the details with spreadsheets and other documents on how the Waterfront Enterprise account is funded and the associated expenses. When all was said and done, the board had a clear picture moving forward on how funds are received and expended to their satisfaction as was Harbormaster Jill Simmons, whose task it is to manage the Waterfront Enterprise Fund.

The changes mean that the fund should have approximately $11,000 in reserve at the end of fiscal year 2015.

In conclusion, Silva asked the MAB to look towards fee increases that take inflation into consideration. He also asked the board to look forward and determine the types of projects the waterfront may need in the coming years, including projects that should come before the Capital Finance Committee.

Simmons’ report to the MAB noted the hiring of James Sullivan as assistant harbormaster, calling him “a talented addition to the department with excellent job skills.” She also said that new dinghy docks have been completed, adding 16 new slots.

A new Eagle Scout project is about to begin, Simmons shared, as local Boy Scout Adam Perkins, 16, of Troop 0053 has asked permission to build new kayak racks at the Town Wharf for his Eagle requirement. Perkins and his parents are accepting donations in material or cash to offset costs associated with the project. Contact Simmons at harbormaster@mattapoisett.net for more details.

Simmons said that the Town’s public restrooms are now closed for the season. Docks will be removed in the coming week, and people will be informed that dinghies need to be removed.

Regarding the updating of Rules and Regulations, a process nearing completion for the MAB, Simmons asked for an addition that would read:

“7.3.2.1. If a mooring is found to be off station the Harbormaster shall notify the permit holder of the situation and instruct same to have the mooring placed back on station within seven days. If the mooring is not place back on station within the seven-day period, the Harbormaster may have the mooring either removed or placed back on station at the permit holder’s expense. Notwithstanding the previous, if the Harbormaster deems the off-station mooring to present an immediate danger the Harbormaster may, without notifying the permit holder, have the mooring either immediately removed or immediately placed back on station at the permit holder’s expense.”

The MAB voted to insert this addition into the working document.

MAB Chairman Allen Gillis asked Silva and Gagne for an update on environmental issues related to Leisure Shores Marina. Silva and Gagne reported that the DEP had recently conducted a site visit to review waterside related activities, but nothing on the landside, which have been contested for some years. Gagne said that issues regarding boats stored on the land were zoning problems yet to be resolved. He said that he was in dialog with the State fire marshal with respect to flammable liquids stored onboard boats being hauled out of the water and stored on Ringuette’s property.

Gagne impressed upon the MAB that it was paramount for the Town to follow “the letter of the law” in a case that he typified as “very complicated.”

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for November 20 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

Investigating Leaf Biology

on November 7, 2014

The Marion Natural History Museum’s afterschool group investigated leaf biology and what happens to a tree in the fall in New England. The students also had a chance to use a dissecting microscope to get a close look, made a leaf press and worked on other crafts to take home. Many thanks to the volunteers who helped make the program a success. Photos Courtesy Elizabeth Leidhold